New build retaining wall

Andy_1122

MikeJXE said:

That sounds like my granddaughters  wall 8 feet high, built by Davidsons 

No idea how it's built and i am ex construction 20 years ago 

It looks exactly like that thankyou. And thankyou for the cross section diagram. Very helpful. An insurance broker I spoke to today finally said they might have one insurer who would insure it but told me absolutly not to plant trees anywhere near it as that would almost certainly give them the option to void any claim in the event it came down.

Thankyou for your response. 

Andy_1122

Section62 said:

Andy_1122 said:

Section62 said:

Andy_1122 said:

If I understand your question correctly, it's almost the entire wall. I would estimate about 7 foot. It  is earth, foundation and drained up to thr top of the wall. the neighbour behind has his lawn level with the top of the wall, his garden is then sectioned by a 6 ft fence on top of this wall. 

That's a big wall then.  Did the developer give you any details of the construction method?  I.e. just brick/block, or reinforced concrete?

No sadly not, but tbh we havtn got that far along, I'm sure they will say it is all done to code and in line with building regs regardless though, but just a cursory search online tells you these new house builders are making a never ending stream of mistakes. Which is what my big worry is tbh. I think I have answered my own question here sadly. Unless they can offer some protection it's 99% pull out. Insurance companies don't want to know, nhbc don't want to know. Probably tells me everything I need to know really. 

Ask them for "section plans" of the wall.  (plans showing the wall in cross-section)  If they are in any way evasive or reluctant then it is probably time to cut your losses and run rather than walking.

In this day and age you should be left responsible for a retaining structure without knowing how the structure is built.

Is the road on the higher level being adopted?  If the wall supports the highway you would have additional obligations compared to if it were only supporting private land.  You'd want to know what the highway authority's view was, and how much input they had in terms of vetting the design.  If the road isn't being adopted then who will be responsible for it?

Yes thankyou all good points you have made. The road is from what I belive going to be private so won't be adopted, and have been told I would be exposed to that risk also. 

Tbh I now have cold feet. Albiet it's probably very unlikely there is a risk it will come down but I'm not the gambling sort. Especially since I just read an article we're a retaining wall came down and they all tries sueing Taylor wimpy who inevitably won in the high court, so they all have to foot the bill now. God knows how much that's costing them. 

Section62

Andy_1122 said:

MikeJXE said:

That sounds like my granddaughters  wall 8 feet high, built by Davidsons 

No idea how it's built and i am ex construction 20 years ago 

It looks exactly like that thankyou. And thankyou for the cross section diagram. Very helpful. An insurance broker I spoke to today finally said they might have one insurer who would insure it but told me absolutly not to plant trees anywhere near it as that would almost certainly give them the option to void any claim in the event it came down.

Thankyou for your response. 

Bear in mind retaining walls are usually designed individually for each case.  The plan MikeJXE posted (might) show how the wall in the picture is constructed, but even though it looks like the one at the property you are dealing with, the actual method of construction may be very different.

The 'business' part of the wall is often hidden behind a facing of brick or stone, which is one of the reasons they are tricky things to own and maintain.

stuart45

Those blocks look like mortarless interlocking ones, designed to step back to form a batter. Allen blocks are an American company that have been producing retaining wall blocks for many years.

chanz4

Andy_1122 said:

user1977 said:

Andy_1122 said:

Nor does insurance company cover it, it seems. If damage to that wall is not caused by a problem with the house, for example house fire, it's not covered. So in the extreme case, if due to a bad storm or defect in the way the wall was made and it collapses I would be responsible for the wall, and any damage to the road and homes above.

Bear in mind that normal buildings insurance doesn't cover you for inherent defects in construction anyway, you'd need to rely on some form of warranty by the developer or NHBC etc.

Thankyou for that. I assuming if a defect with the house NHBC would be involved then, so I'm not to worried about that, if that is indeed the case. 

dont bet on it, they try and work their way out of all we had issues with barratt the company these own

Andy_1122

chanz4 said:

Andy_1122 said:

user1977 said:

Andy_1122 said:

Nor does insurance company cover it, it seems. If damage to that wall is not caused by a problem with the house, for example house fire, it's not covered. So in the extreme case, if due to a bad storm or defect in the way the wall was made and it collapses I would be responsible for the wall, and any damage to the road and homes above.

Bear in mind that normal buildings insurance doesn't cover you for inherent defects in construction anyway, you'd need to rely on some form of warranty by the developer or NHBC etc.

Thankyou for that. I assuming if a defect with the house NHBC would be involved then, so I'm not to worried about that, if that is indeed the case. 

dont bet on it, they try and work their way out of all we had issues with barratt the company these own

Fair point thankyou. 

Andy_1122

Section62 said:

Andy_1122 said:

MikeJXE said:

That sounds like my granddaughters  wall 8 feet high, built by Davidsons 

No idea how it's built and i am ex construction 20 years ago 

It looks exactly like that thankyou. And thankyou for the cross section diagram. Very helpful. An insurance broker I spoke to today finally said they might have one insurer who would insure it but told me absolutly not to plant trees anywhere near it as that would almost certainly give them the option to void any claim in the event it came down.

Thankyou for your response. 

Bear in mind retaining walls are usually designed individually for each case.  The plan MikeJXE posted (might) show how the wall in the picture is constructed, but even though it looks like the one at the property you are dealing with, the actual method of construction may be very different.

The 'business' part of the wall is often hidden behind a facing of brick or stone, which is one of the reasons they are tricky things to own and maintain.

Thankyou. If by some miracle we go ahead now I will make sire we have the exact plans to our wall. 

sheramber

Is it not the case that the responsibilty for a retaining wall lies with the uphill party, whose land is being retained, unless the title deeds state otherwise.?

That doesn't men you wouldn't have hasle getting them to repair it.

Andy_1122

sheramber said:

Is it not the case that the responsibilty for a retaining wall lies with the uphill party, whose land is being retained, unless the title deeds state otherwise.?

That doesn't men you wouldn't have hasle getting them to repair it.

Thankyou. Well this is what has caused much the fuss. Whoever planned this estate has made that our wall and our responsibility on the plans. Had they made ownership and the boundary of the house above, it wouldn't be an issue for me or for them, becasue even if it collapsed it would be classed as structural to their house and home insurance would cover it. As they have made it mine and my ownership it it collapsed the my insurance would not cover it as it not attached to my house in any way.  Whoever planned this estate has dropped B for sure. 

Andy_1122

I will also say anyone following this thread. When they wanted to get our reservation fee and commitment the sales folk told us whatever we wanted to hear. It was all fundamentally wrong and some outright lies, may it serve as a cautionary tale to anyone about to embark on a a new build purchase. Don't take anything the sales team tell you as true.